Improvement in green-corn cutters



B. MERRITT.

Green-Corn Cutters.

No.l47,l50, Pateme'dFeb-3. 1874.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN MERllTT, OF BOSTON, MASSIVHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GR EEN-CORN CUTTERS.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 147,150, dated Feblnary 3,1874; application tiled October 29, 1873.

To all'whom lit may concern:

Beit known that I, BENJAMIN MERRITT, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Green-(Jornv (lutter, of which the followin is aspecitication:

This invention relates to a machine for cutting the kernels of corn from the cob when the corn is green. It consists of a double case or cylinder havin g, partly above and partly within the inner case, a series of circular knives and a series of rollers and scrapers so arranged that when the ear of corn is inserted from above and driven through this series of knives, rollers, and Scrapers, by means of machinery operated by hand or other power, the corn will be cleaned from the cob ahnost instantaneously. The object of the invention is to facilitate the process of removing the kernels of corn from the cob for purposes of canning or preparing the same for the table.

Figure l is an elevation of the machine. Fig. 2 is a view of the case looking from above. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the case. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the holding-jaws.

Similar letters represent like parts.

The letterA represents the base or stand on which the machine rests; B B', the double case; C, the standard; D, the spring; fr, a connecting-rod; af, the driving-piston; b, the pitlnan; c, the crank; d, the crank-lever; e, a revolving came; a cam-lever; g y', gear-wheels; h h, slotted cams; t' i, cam-levers having rollers fi if operating within the slotted cams h h; jj, holding-jaws; L k, Snc., knives; Z l, Src., jointed levers having guides, as l l', rollers, as Z l, and Scrapers, as Z' ZH; m m, &e., hollow thumb or set screws; and n a, &c., springs upon arms of levers.

The machine when exa-mined explains itself,

and, thou-gh composed of many parts, it is simple. With reference to the-plane on which it stands, the machineis inclined at an angle. (See Fig. 1.). It is found in practice that the machine more readily discharges the kernels of corn when operated at the inclination shown than when perpendicular to the plane.

The case is composed of two parts, B B', joined together. (See Fig. 2.) It is made of cast-iron or any suitable material. Within the inner case, or just above it, are arranged, first,

two circular knives, l.' k, opposite each other. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) These knives are adjusted to guides, as Z l. Between the knives and guides the kernels of corn pass and fall. Just below these two knives mentioned are two other similar knives, as K K, arranged on like guides, but at right angles to the first knives. These guides are a part of, or are fastened to, the ends of the lever-arms, and the other extremities of the levers are pivoted to arms attached firmly to the inner case, and these lever-arms, having the guides, are regulated by other levers which pass through both cases, and have adjustable set-screws, as m m, &c.; and these latter arms, also, in the spaces between the double case, are surrounded by spiral springs. (See Figs. 2 and 3 for a full explanation of the arrangement of the guides, levers, set-screws, springs, &c.)

)Vlien the ear of corn ispressed (the pointed end first) between the knives and the guides, (see as in Fig. 2,) the pressure causes the levers around which are the springs to spring back, but the spirals u n, &c., pressing up, keep the guides and knives close to the ear. Below this series of knives is arranged a series of rollers upon levers, &c., in like manner as the knives are arranged. These facilitate and ease the passage of the ear. Still below the rollers is arranged the series of Scrapers on llevers arranged in like manner as are the knives and rollers. These clear the kernels from the cob.

rlhe case B B is attached to the standard C, as shown in Fig. l. The standard (see Fig. l) is bent in form, and has attached to it the machinery which forces the ear of corn through the knives, &c. rlhe holding-jaws (see Figs. 2 and 4) arranged just above the knives open for the ear when the piston a is raised, and when the piston descends its point takes the center ofthe ear and forces it instantly through the series of knives, Sac.

To regulate the opening and closing of thc jaws there is attached to cach jaw, on the outof the cam-levers z' fi. Attached to the crank, between it and the gear-wheel g, is a revolving' cam, e, which operates upon the cani-lever j', throwing it up as the crank is turned. This forces the cam-levers down, and the slotted cams 71y 71, being made narrower at their lowest side, a slotted cam, 71, in which play rollers 1'/ 'i' part, force the jaws apart. The piston, being pointed, does not lose its hold upon the center of the cob. The cam-lever is attached at one end by the spring D, and this spring is attached at its other end to the standard near its top, and the operation is such that when the spring is at its least strain the piston is raised highest, the motion of which is regulated by the pitinan Z) and the crank-arm cZ attached to the gear g.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. rEhe series of adjustable knives L 7s 7a 7.', in combination with the guides Z' Z' Z' Z', the

jointed levers Z Z Z Z, the double case B B', the

springs u u n n, and the set-screws m m m m, substantially as shown and described.

2. The series of rollers Z" Z" Z" Z", in combination with the jointed levers Z Z Z I, the case B B', the springs u fn n n, and the set-screws mr on m my, substantially as shown and described.

3. The series of scrapers Z' Z' Z' Z', in conibination with the jointed levers Z Z Z Z,'the case B B', the springs n a n n, and the set-screws m m m m, substantiallyT as shown and described.

4. The combination of the jaws jj, the bent lever Z, the link the camlever j", and the revolving cam @operated by the gear g g' and the crank 0, substantially as shown and described. v

5. The holding mechanism, consisting of the jaws 7' j and bent levers ZZ, in combination With knives 7V' 7U' and scrapers Z' Z', as and for the purpose speciied.

BEJ. MERRITT.

Vitnessos:

NVn. EDsoN, J'. L. NEWTON. 

